Abstract: Photon-based therapies have crossed from the dark side in this new patent application highlighting thermosetting block polymers for skin rejuvenation and more.

Phototherapies have wide-ranging applications in both the medical and cosmetic fields. For example, they are used to treat cancers and tumors noninvasively; to promote wound healing; and for facial rejuvenation.

Such therapies typically involve applying a photosensitive agent to a target tissue and exposing it to a light source. After a determined period of time, the photosensitizer is then absorbed by the target tissue for desired effects.

According to these inventors, however, existing regimens often demonstrate low therapeutic efficacy. This may be due in part to toxicity, an impact on peripheral body sites or poor selectivity by the photosensitive agents that penetrate the targeted tissues. As such, the inventors on a new patent application sought to improve the compositions and methods for phototherapy.

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Phototherapies have wide-ranging applications in both the medical and cosmetic fields. For example, they are used to treat cancers and tumors noninvasively; to promote wound healing; and for facial rejuvenation.

Such therapies typically involve applying a photosensitive agent to a target tissue and exposing it to a light source. After a determined period of time, the photosensitizer is then absorbed by the target tissue for desired effects.

According to these inventors, however, existing regimens often demonstrate low therapeutic efficacy. This may be due in part to toxicity, an impact on peripheral body sites, or poor selectivity by the photosensitive agents penetrating targeted tissues. As such, the inventors on a new patent application sought to improve the compositions and methods for phototherapy.

Disclosed in this patent application are thermosetting biophotonic compositions and methods for their use in phototherapy. In particular, the compositions include a block copolymer and at least one chromophore, such as xanthene dye, an azo dye, a methylene blue dye or a chlorophyll dye, solubilized in the block copolymer.

Said compositions may be used for skin rejuvenation, conditioning and/or the promotion of collagen synthesis; wound healing or tissue repair; treatment of skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis, etc. In some embodiments, the thermosetting biophotonic composition may also be used to modulate inflammation or promote angiogenesis.

Suitable chromophores can be fluorescent compounds (or stains), or other dye groups or dyes; i.e., biological and histological dyes, food coloring, carotenoids, etc. Suitable photoactivators can be those that are Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS).

Advantageously, photoactivators that are not well-tolerated by the skin or other tissues can be included in the thermosetting biophotonic composition of the present disclosure since, in certain embodiments, the photoactivators are dissolved within the block copolymer.